Macron convenes security council after France underestimates protest turnout

French President Emmanuel Macron is chairing an emergency security council Thursday, two days before feared new protests, following intelligence failures that underestimated weekend demonstrations against the high cost of living, which saw violence and looting in several cities. The meeting with ministers and intelligence services will review failures behind the 17 October mobilisation, where turnout reached up to 800,000 against forecasts of 200,000. Security for Saturday will be reinforced with a 20% increase in law enforcement, including elite units and soldiers from the Sentinelle force. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will meet political parties and mayors of Paris, Lyon and Marseille, who demand an independent commission on public-order strategy. Several presidential candidates, including Marine Le Pen and Édouard Philippe, will skip the meeting, while La France insoumise leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon vowed to "wreck" the consultations.